Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-12-17
Three Interviews
HE.

l1lOG 4l1VOi v lNII0 ~. 49,
HE.
One morning IN August, 1863
II orgea sTzyarde, tflr-tff
South Carolina Infantry then -or
special staff detail in Richmond
Va, was passing down a line OF
new recruits drawn up for medical
inspection. He put them through
the usual contortions. They swung
their arms, rose up on their toes.
rolled their ewes, and put out their
tongues alter the manner of their
kind, while eptrlunctorily thnmp
ed and sc'utinlzed them not unlik Ike
a critical d.Lrkey ID melon patch.
at last he halted before a medi
nm sized, yellow haired lad, whose
beartlless face, slender physique
and evasive, not 10 say nervous
manner indicated that youthful
timidity was strongly ending
with the fiery resolution that had
doubtless brought him hither. His
preternatnrally large bright eyes
hardly ever rose in their glances
above tha surgeons sash anil sword
belt. His face and neck were we'll
tanned, yet his features were of
classic regularity and his hand
small and shapeIy. The routine
questions AS to age, etc, we're an
swered with evident reluctance.-
Tile doctor seemed to grow suspic-
ious, for be suddenly pressed his
knuckles sharply against the
YOUTHS chest. The latter sprang
back with q swift appealing glance
at his tormentOr. who abruptly
turned, passed to the next man and
so OH down the lire. When he had
finished, DR.. Iyzarde returned to
tile lad. and consulting his list, said
in a cold, official tone:
"Your name is Oliver Wlld?n
Yes, SIR"
You will come with me, Wild.
Your case seems to require special
attention"
The surgeon led the way, while
Wild, with eyes upon the ground,
quietly followed him into private
Office, when the latter closed the
door and turned to the would be
soldier he said sternly:
"NOw, miss or madam, how long
have you been masquerading in
this attire aud what is your real
purposeY"
The youth looked up with a
frightened contraction of feature,
then assumed with effort a bar
drnrd. Indifferent air, said:
II really don't make out to un-
derstand We, Sir"
II will make my meaning plain.
You are woman. 1t is difficult to
conceal such things from a physi-
ciln who knows his business. Do
not deny it. Twould save you
from a more public exposure. Your
motives though widely mistaken,
may be honorable; yet, though the
Confeneracy needs soldiers badly,
we can do without women in that
capacity for a while yet. I also
fear that in your language, as in
your actions. you are yelling Your
real station in life by an assump-
tion of Ignorance as unnatural to
you as it seems degrading TO me-"
AS lzyarde concluded, the other
lowered his gaze to the floor and
remained ohstinately silent. The
dOct orresumed:
uYou will see that it is impossi.
BILE for me to pass you. Yet il you
have a real desire to serve your
country, there are other ways
wherein you may do so without un
sexing yourself. There are"-
"Do you really Think so7" she
interrupted. 1--WE may as well say
.sshe" now.) In her earnestness
she forgot her cracker dialect and
information, and spoke with pure
ard refined enunciation.
aCertainly,' replied Izyarde.-
.There are hospitals needing good
nurses; also the Sisters Of Mercy
and charity OF various religious and
secular orders who follow the am.
-hulance and brave shot and she'll
to accomplish good work On the
battlefield. The courage of the
soldier is far more essential than
the devotion of those who minister
to human suffering amid frightful
perils to the living. Even your
face and hands ale artifcially
tanned. Sect"
Before she could resist he took
one of her hand, pushed mp the
coatsleeve, evealing thereby a
shapely white arm. Through the
brown upon her cheek he saw the
rich color rising as she hung bel
head. at this period some one en-
tered the outer Office, and the doc
tor, bidding her to remain there
until his return, went out, closing
tue door behind him.
1t was several minutes before he
came back, only to find that the
would be recruit had vanished
An open window looking into .
back yard, that communicated
an alley leading to the street, ex
planned the manner of her exit
He afterward made various dis
creetinquiriss, yet beard of her nj
moro finally abandoning the cues